January 2017

January 11, 2017

ROANOKE POLICE INVESTIGATE INCIDENT INVOLVING NEWBORN INFANT

Roanoke, Va.- On January 5, 2017 at 9:22 a.m. Roanoke Police responded to the 200 block of Harrison Avenue NW to investigate a suspicious circumstances call involving a newborn child. Officer received information that the mother of a newborn baby, a juvenile, had recently given birth to the child at her residence. Officers and emergency personnel arrived at the juvenile's residence and made contact with her. After initial denials about the newborn infant, an officer heard the baby in the juvenile's room. The officer retrieved the infant from inside a closed plastic container and handed the baby off to medical personnel on scene. Both the infant and the juvenile mother were transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Detectives obtained petitions charging the juvenile mother with attempted murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and felony child neglect. On January 7th the juvenile mother was transported to Coynter Springs Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.

Following in depth discussions with law enforcement stakeholders, the Roanoke Police Department has made the decision to utilize the Virginia State Police (VSP) for the criminal investigation portion of all officer involved shootings. The Roanoke Police Department will cooperate fully in any future investigations and is in the process of completing the necessary internal changes to aid in this endeavor.

Chief Tim Jones attributes this change to developing best practices for law enforcement agencies. “We welcome this move to an independent investigation associated with the circumstances surrounding officer involved use of lethal force or in custody death,” Chief Jones said. “While we hope that such investigative circumstances will not be necessary, we believe this change will build upon the confidence our community already has established in our department. The continued trust between the police and the community is vital and it is obvious that many of our citizens, along with professional law enforcement associations, have expressed support for this type progressive transparency and change.”

This change in policy has been shared with the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney, Donald Caldwell. His office is supportive of the Roanoke Police Department’s initiative to make changes in the investigative process. In addition the Virginia State Police Criminal Investigations Division, Salem Office, has been involved with the Roanoke Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney Offices to insure a smooth transition of this change to the investigation policy.

The Roanoke Police Department will continue with a parallel but separate internal investigation into all officer involved shootings to determine if the officer’s actions were within policy guidelines. Those findings will continue to be shared with the police department’s established Disciplinary Review Board, a panel which utilizes citizen representatives to review circumstances and to make recommendations to the Chief of Police related to disciplinary matters.

January 18, 2017

ROANOKE POLICE INVESTIGATE MURDER IN THE 2300 BLOCK OF STAUNTON AVENUE NW
Roanoke, Va.- On January 17, 2017 at 6:15 p.m., Roanoke Police responded to a home in the 2300 block of Staunton Avenue NW for a person who had been shot. The victim was identified as Michael Lee Nance, age 28, of Roanoke. Nance sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The first officer on scene began rendering first aid to Nance until paramedics arrived. Nance was speaking with officers at the scene. Roanoke Fire EMS transported Nance to Carilion Roanoke Memorial where he died at 7:37 p.m. Officers determined the shooting took place in the 1800 block of Staunton Avenue. Evidence recovered indicates that Nance had been in his vehicle when he was shot. Drug activity was involved in the shooting.

After further investigation, officers arrested Michael Antonio David Jr., age 19, at his residence in the 4000 block of Wyoming Avenue NW at 7:45 a.m. At this point David Jr. has been charged with second degree murder. He was taken to the Roanoke City Jail. The investigation is ongoing.

January 23, 2017

ROANOKE POLICE MAKE ARREST IN PAIR OF RECENT PURSE SNATCHINGSRoanoke, Va.- The Roanoke Police Department has made an arrest in two recent purse snatchings. The latest occurred on January 20th at 7:40 pm outside the Eight Jefferson Street Apartments. The victim told officers she was about to enter the apartment building when the suspect grabbed her purse and ran toward Centre Avenue NW. The victim was not physically hurt. Information gathered during the course of the investigation led officers to the 1500 block of Gilmer Avenue NW where they found evidence linking the suspect, Steven Branch, age 52, of Roanoke to the crime. Branch was arrested and charged with the purse snatching. He was taken to Roanoke City Jail. Branch has also been charged with a purse snatching and assault that took place outside the Hotel Roanoke on December 11th. Additional charges are pending at this time.